NEW DATA ABOUT THE FAUNА OF ORIBATID MITES (ORIBATIDA) OF THE NORTH CAUCASUS

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to publish new data on the species composition of oribatid mites in the North Caucasus, which will make possible to clarify the destribution of the oribatids of the world fauna region. The material was collected in 2003-2009, according to generally accepted methods, in 23 habitats in the territory of Adygea, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria and the Krasnodar Territory in various altitudinal levels: in alpine and subalpine meadows, in mountain forests of various types (birch, pine, beech or mixed), mesophytic meadows in the forest zone, in xerophytic shrubs and mountain steppes, floodplain meadows and salt marshes of the semidesert biotopes of the lowland zone. Results. There were found 349 species of the oribatid mites from 158 genera and subgenera belonging to 62 families. Forest habitats are characterized by the greatest species diversity, there are found 232 species of oribatids. In the alpine and subalpine meadows 158 species are noted, 71 species are found in the mountain steppe zone, 47 species in the salt marshes of the semidesert zone, and 7 species in the floodplain meadows. For the first time in the Caucasian region one genus Novosuctobelba Hammer, 1977 and 29 species of the oribatid mites are registered, founded earlier only in Japan, China, Somalia and some countries of the Mediterranean. There are 14 new taxa for science: 12 species and 2 subspecies. Conclusion. In 23 biotopes of 18 geographical points of the Northern Caucasus 349 species of the oribatid mites from 158 genera and subgenus and 62 families were found. The number of species found in the biotopes of different altitude zones corresponds to the basic patterns of distribution of oribatids in mountain ecosystems: the biotopes of the forest zone are characterized by the greatest species diversity, the number of species in the soils of alpine and subalpine meadows and biotopes of the mountain-steppe zone is somewhat lower, the smallest number of species is found in the semidesert zone. For the first time in the Caucasian region one genus and 29 species of oribatid have been recorded, which allows to expand the areology of some species of the oribatid mites. There are 14 new taxa for science.